Combining complex event models and timing constraints

Sophisticated models of event streams including jitter and bursts as well as the possibility to specify a variety of system-level timing constraints are prerequisites for modem analysis and synthesis techniques in the area of embedded real-time systems. Currently, there is no commonly used specification that models events and timing constraints in a sufficiently general way. In this paper, we first identify a duality between event models and timing constraints and as a result present a specification that can be used for both. Our specification covers most current analysis and synthesis techniques and is easily extensible. We then show how the duality between event models and timing constraints can be applied at different points in a design flow. A real-time video transmission is used as an example.